Prevention of accumulation of uremic toxin precursors in the feces by oral administration of a lactic acid bacteria preparation to uremic patients undergoing hemodialysis

Plasma levels of phenol, p-cresol and indican are markedly elevated in uremic patients, but it is impossible to efficiently reduce them by hemodialysis (HD). Such uremic toxins are produced in the intestine as bacterial putrefactive metabolites. Analysis of fecal microflora revealed an imbalance in its composition characterized by the overgrowth of aerobic bacteria during HD. Balance was restored by oral administration of the lactic acid bacteria preparation Lolon® S. Oral feeding of this lactic acid bacteria compound also reduced levels of putrefactive substances in the stools. These findings demonstrated that oral feeding of lactic acid bacteria to uremic patients is effective in reducing the accumulation of uremic toxins by reducing bacterial production through the correction of imbalances in intestinal microflora. Based on the results of this study, we propose the introduction of “probiotics”, such as the lactic acid bacteria employed in this study, as a means of reducing uremic toxins.